Suppai is the Japanese word for ‘sour’, explained

What does “suppai” mean in Japanese?

Native speakers say “suppai” to mean ‘sour’ in Japanese. Perhaps, some Japanese learners know this word as it is sometimes used in Japanese conversations. In this blog post, however, I will explain it together with its major conjugations. And also, I will explain how to use them through example sentences. My explanations would help Japanese learners to use “suppai” more properly. Then, let’s get started!

Contents

• Definition and meaning of “suppai”
  • Example #1: how to say “sour” in Japanese
• Suppakunai: the nai form of “suppai”
  • Example #2: how to say “not sour” in Japanese
• Suppakatta: the ta form of “suppai”
  • Example #3: how to say “was sour” in Japanese
• Suppakute: the te form of “suppai”
  • Example #4: how to say “sour and” in Japanese
• Suppakereba: the ba form of “suppai”
  • Example #5: how to say “if sour” in Japanese
• Summary

Definition and meaning of “suppai”

Let me start with the definition and meaning of “suppai”.

• suppai – 酸っぱい (すっぱい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘sour’ in Japanese.

Native speakers use this i-adjective to describe an acid taste in Japanese. So, its usage is similar to that of the English adjective, “sour”.

The definition and meaning are simple and clear, I think. Then, let me explain how to use this i-adjective through the example sentence below.

Example #1: how to say “sour” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• kono – この : a determiner used before a noun referring to a thing close to the speaker. In the example, this is used before “ringo” to say “this apple” in Japanese.
• ringo – 林檎 (りんご) : a noun meaning ‘apple’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural. Learn more about Japanese plural.
• wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this works after “kono ringo” to make the subject in the sentence.

This is a typical usage of “suppai”. In this example, it works as the complement in the sentence. Like other adjectives, however, it can also work as a modifier in front of a noun. For example, we can say “suppai ringo” to mean a ‘sour apple’ in Japanese. It’s worth knowing, I think.

So far, I’ve explained the definition and meaning of “suppai” and how to use it through the example sentence. In the rest part of this blog post, I will explain its major conjugations. The first one is “suppakunai”.

Suppakunai: the nai form of “suppai”

Below are the definition and meaning of “suppakunai”.

• suppakunai – 酸っぱくない (すっぱくない) : the nai form of “suppai”, which means ‘not sour’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “suppakunai” consists of the following two parts:

• suppaku – 酸っぱく (すっぱく) : one conjugation of “suppai”. This can have a smooth connection with “nai”.
• nai – ない : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to deny its meaning. Word orders in Japanese and English are different, but the role of this auxiliary verb is similar to that of “not”.

From these two parts, we can understand that “suppakunai” is literally the nai form of “suppai” and means ‘not sour’ in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this nai form through the example sentence below.

Example #2: how to say “not sour” in Japanese

Below is the new word used in the example sentence.

• momo – 桃 (もも) : a noun meaning ‘peach’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.

This is a typical usage of “suppakunai”. When we want to mean ‘not sour’ in Japanese, this nai form is a good option.

Suppakatta: the ta form of “suppai”

Below are the definition and meanings of “suppakatta”.

• suppakatta – 酸っぱかった (すっぱかった) : the ta form of “suppai”, which means ‘was sour’, ‘were sour’, or such in Japanese.

Grammatically, “suppakatta” consists of the following two parts:

• suppakat – 酸っぱかっ (すっぱかっ) : one conjugation of “suppai”. This can have a smooth connection with “ta”.
• ta – た : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its past tense form. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese ta form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “suppakatta” is literally the ta form of “suppai” and means ‘was sour’, ‘were sour’, or such in Japanese. Let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #3: how to say “was sour” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• ano – あの : a determiner used before a noun referring to a thing not close to the speaker. In the example, this is used before “ichigo” to say “that strawberry” in Japanese.
• ichigo – 苺 (いちご) : a noun meaning ‘strawberry’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.

This is a typical usage of “ichigo”. When we want to use the past tense form of “suppai”, this ta form is the best option.

Suppakute: the te form of “suppai”

Below are the definition and meaning of “suppakute”.

• suppakute – 酸っぱくて (すっぱくて) : the te form of “suppai”, which means ‘sour’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “suppakute” consists of the following two parts:

• suppaku – 酸っぱく (すっぱく) : one conjugation of “suppai”. This can have a smooth connection with “te”.
• te – て : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its te form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “suppakute” is literally the te form of “suppai”. In Japanese, te-formed words have some important roles. One of them is make smooth connections of words. So, “suppakute” is very useful when we want to use “suppai” in front of another adjective, a verb, or an auxiliary verb. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

Example #4: how to say “sour and” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• mikan – 蜜柑 (みかん) : a noun meaning ‘mandarin orange’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
• katai – 固い (かたい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘hard’, ‘firm’, ‘solid’, or such in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “suppakute”. In the example, it has the smooth connection with “katai”. When we want to use “suppai” in front of another adjective like this, its te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.

Suppakereba: the ba form of “suppai”

Lastly, let me explain the definition and meaning of “suppakereba”.

• suppakereba – 酸っぱければ (すっぱければ) : the ba form of “suppai”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘sour’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “suppakereba” consists of the following two parts:

• suppakere – 酸っぱけれ (すっぱけれ) : one conjugation of “suppai”. This can have a smooth connection with “ba”.
• ba – ば : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its ba form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “suppakereba” is literally the ba form of “suppai”. In Japanese, the ba forms of words can work as their conditional forms. So, we can use “suppakereba” to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘sour’ in Japanese. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

Example #5: how to say “if sour” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• ga – が : a case particle used to make the subject word or the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after “ichigo” to make the subject in the conditional clause.
• satou – 砂糖 (さとう) : a noun meaning ‘sugar’ in Japanese.
• wo – を : a case particle used to make the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after “satou” to make the object in the sentence.
• tashi – 足し (たし) : one conjugation of the verb, “tasu”, which means ‘to add’ in Japanese. In the example, it has been conjugated for the better connection with its following word.
• te – て : the same as used in “suppakute”. In the example, this is used after “tashi” to make its te form, “tashi te”. Verbs need to be changed to their te forms to be connected with “kudasai”.
• kudasai – ください : one conjugation of the verb, “kudasaru”, which means ‘to give’ or such in Japanese. When this follows a verb, however, this can work like an auxiliary verb to add the meaning of ‘please’. In the example, this works like an auxiliary verb after “tashi te” to add the meaning of ‘please’.

This is a typical usage of “suppakereba”. In this example, it works as a part of the conditional clause, “ichigo ga suppakereba”, which means ‘if the strawberries are sour’ in Japanese. When we want to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘sour’ in Japanese, this ba form is a good option.

Summary

In this blog post, I’ve explained the definition and meaning of “suppai” together with its major conjugations. And also, I’ve explained how to use them through the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.

• suppai – 酸っぱい (すっぱい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘sour’ in Japanese. This can work as both a modifier and a complement.
• suppakunai – 酸っぱくない (すっぱくない) : the nai form of “suppai”, which means ‘not sour’ in Japanese.
• suppakatta – 酸っぱかった (すっぱかった) : the ta form of “suppai”, which means ‘was sour’, ‘were sour’, or such in Japanese.
• suppakute – 酸っぱくて (すっぱくて) : the te form of “suppai”, which means ‘sour’ in Japanese. When we want to use “suppai” in front of another adjective, this te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.
• suppakereba – 酸っぱければ (すっぱければ) : the ba form of “suppai”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘sour’ in Japanese.

Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.